Popping off gear change linkages and drop links question

[djheath]

Hello, I have spent the day trying to replace my clutch. I have so far spent 10 hours, removing the driveshafts, popping ball joints, undoing rusted on bolts and cutting drop links in half as their bolts were just tooo corroded. I left today with everything removed from the gear box, ready for it to be removed tomorrow, but I couldn't get the three gear change linkages popped off their balls!! BE3 gear box.

Anyone got any tips on removing them? Haynes as always says, in it perfect nonchalant way, "use a flat blade screen driver and remove the linkages from their balls". Well I tried and tried and they wouldn't budge! Help!!

Also would I be able to drive the car over to euro car parts without the drop links connected so I can go an buy two new ones to replace the two I have cut, or would that cause serious problems?

Thanks.

[Pob]

They can be a little troublesome sometimes. If you can get a pair of molegrips near the cup end, twist it and it will pop off... Or use a pry bar to force it off the ball. If that fails, get a long screw driver and place it near the cup and hit it upwards with a hammer. Regarding the drop links, it will cause the car to handle differently but if you take it steady you should be fine. Or if you want a safer option, order them off ebay and wait till they turn up

Dan

[djheath]

Thanks for the reply. I'll have another go at the linkages first thing tomorrow. Hopefully my bones will have stopped aching by then.